De-icer for aeroplanes and the like



O'ct. 11, 1938.

J. F.' HAMM.

DE-ICER FOR AEROPLANES AND THE LIKE Filed May s, 1938 2 sheetsfsneet 2 o. 0 O O y Inventor A torneys Patented Oct. 11, 1938 PATENT OFFICE DE-ICER FOR AEROPLANES AND THE LIKE Julian F. Hamll, Temple, Tex.'

Application May 3, 1938, Serial No. 205,821

s claims.

This invention relates to devices for preventing accumulation of ice upon aeroplanes or the like, and especially to prevent the accumulation of ice on the leading edges of the'aeroplane wings as well as upon the tail group of the aeroplane which includes the stabilizers and the vertical rudders and ns.

In accordance with the present invention, a member is provided which may be readily and easily attached to an aeroplane wing for disposition over the leading edge of the wing and further, whereby means are provided that such member may be agitated in a manner to positively prevent the accumulation of ice as ittends to form on the wing.

The invention, with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of an aeroplane wing having the invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a metal tape forming part of the invention.

Figure 4 is a detail of the agitator strip, and

Figure 5 is a detail showing the means for agitating the de-icer.

In accordance with the present invention the de-icer, in the preferred embodiment thereof,

comprises an elongated sheet of rubber 5 or analogous elastic material which is of a length and width as to fit over the leading edge 5 of the aeroplane wing 1 as best shown in Figures 1 and 2.

At its longitudinal edges the sheet 5 has embedded therein expanded metal reinforcing and attaching plates 8 that have relatively wide sub stantially solid marginal edge portions l apertured as at I0 so that through the medium of screws or the like Il said exposed edges of the plate are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the wing.

Intermediate its longitudinal edge portion the plate 5 has a longitudinally extending portion I2 in which is embedded a perforated metallic tape I3 which extends substantially throughout the length of the plate 5 and to the end of the tape adjacent the butt of the wing is secured one end of a cable or rod Il and to the end of the tape adjacent the tip of the wing is secured a cable I5 trained over a pulley I6, both of said cables being connected to a manipulating device, which in the present instance is shown as comprising a lever Il pivoted at .an intermediateI portion as at I8 to a portion of the frame I9 of the aeroplane, the cables I4 and I5 being respectively connected to the lever at points above and below the pivot I8 in a manner as will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 5 of the drawings.

'I'hrough the manipulation of the lever I1 in a back and forth movement, the tape I3 likewise will be caused to lbe moved backwardly and forwardly longitudinally of the leading edge of the wing, which in turn will cause alternate stretching and contraction of the sheet 5 to the end that, thus being agitated, the sheet will tend to keep the ice broken as fast as it tends to form on the wings.` il

It will be apparent that in lieu of the lever I1 any suitable agitating means may be provided, such as for instance, an electric motor.

Likewise, as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings, the outer surface of the rubber plate 5 is transversely corrugated as at 20, the corrugations, when the plate is applied to the wings of the aeroplane, extending vertically. or at right angles to the direction of movement of the agitator tape I3.

It will also be apparent that the .invention is equally well adapted for use upon the leading edges of a tail group, such as stabilizers and vertical ns or rudders.

It is believed the details of construction and manner of operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having described the invention. what is claimed isl l. In an aeroplane, a wing having a leadingr vedge, a strip of elastic sheet material snugly enveloping said leading edge, and means embedded In the sheet for moving the same longitudinally of the wing for causing the sheet to l alternately stretch and contract, to break loose ice formation.

2. In an aeroplane, a wing structure tapering rearwardly from a leading edge, a fixed elastic covering f or said wing structure mounted on the outside of said wing structure and enclosing the leading edge thereof, said sheet having a metal tape longitudinally embedded therein intermediate the longitudinal edges of the sheet, and said tape having an end adapted to extend into the fuselage of an aeroplane to be alternately pulled and released for alternately stretching and contracting said' elastic sheet for breaking loose ice tending to form on said sheet.

3. In an aeroplane; a wing having a leading i sheet to stretch and contract in a direction longitudinally of rthe wing to loosen ice crustations from the sheet.

4. A covering for the leading edge of an aeroplane wing, said covering consisting of a single sheet of rubber, expanded metal plates embedded in the rubber of the sheet adjacent opposite longitudinal edges of said sheet, andv said metal plates having exposed end edges for attachment directly to an aeroplane wing, a. exible ,metallic tape embedded longitudinally in thel sheet and having an end extending from one end of the sheet and means connected to said end of the tape for stretching and contracting the sheet in a direction longitudinally of the wing to loosen ice crustations from the sheet.

5. A covering for the leading edge of an aeroplane wing, said covering consisting of a single sheet of rubber, expanded metal plates embedded in the rubber of the sheet adjacent opposite longitudinal edges of said sheet, said metal plates having exposed end edges for attachment directly to an aeroplane wing, said sheet also having a longitudinally extending thickened portion at the longitudinal medial thereof, and a metallic tape having an end portion embedded within the` 

